By Liam Cook

UQ winger Kye Oates is confident his team can regroup for their preliminary final against Brothers after a crushing semi-final loss to Wests.

“It sort of explains itself, you’re playing Brothers in a knockout semi and everyone will be up for it,” Oates told Rugby News.

The semi-final defeat against Wests will go down as one of the most enthralling contests in Queensland club rugby.

For UQ, they were left to lament a golden opportunity to move straight into the grand final and defend their 2021 premiership.

“It is a rough one to be on the end of that, despite the draw you have to cop it as a loss.”

“We put ourselves in that position and we definitely had moments where we should have put that game away.”

The Red Heavies will take plenty of lessons out of the clash even with the bitter feeling of losing despite equalling their opponents on the scoreboard.